Live At Treorchy
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''Live at Treorchy'' is a live album by
Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, of or about Wales * Welsh language, spoken in Wales * Welsh people, an ethnic group native to Wales Places * Welsh, Arkansas, U.S. * Welsh, Louisiana, U.S. * Welsh, Ohio, U.S. * Welsh Basin, during t ...
comedian and singer
Max Boyce Maxwell Boyce, (born 27 September 1943) is a Welsh comedian, singer and entertainer from Glynneath, Wales. He rose to fame in the mid-1970s with an act that combined musical comedy with his passion for rugby union and his origins in a South Wal ...
, first issued in 1974. It was his third album and his first for a major label,
EMI Records EMI Records (formerly EMI Records Ltd.) is a British multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It was originally founded as a British flagship label by the music company EMI in 1972, and launched in January 1973 as the succes ...
. The album contains a mixture of comedic songs and poems along with Boyce's interactions with the crowd at Treorchy Rugby Club. The album was an unexpected success going
gold Gold is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol Au (from Latin ) and atomic number 79. In its pure form, it is a brightness, bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile metal. Chemically, gold is a transition metal ...
and was Boyce's breakthrough recording, helping make him a household name in
Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...
and beyond.


Album history

Welsh entertainer Max Boyce had produced two albums prior to the release of ''Live at Treorchy'', both on Cambrian Records, ''Max Boyce in Session'' and ''Caneuon Amrywiol'' (both in 1971). Neither album was very successful and Boyce continued touring clubs around South Wales. In 1973 and still an unknown outside Wales, he was spotted by EMI record producer Bob Barrett, stealing the show from headliner
Ken Dodd Sir Kenneth Arthur Dodd (8 November 1927 – 11 March 2018) was an English stand-up comedy, comedian, actor and singer. He was described as "the last great music hall entertainer" and was primarily known for his live stand-up comedy, stand-up pe ...
at the
Brangwyn Hall The Brangwyn Hall () is a concert venue in Swansea. It is named after the artist Frank Brangwyn, whose ''British Empire Panels'', originally intended for the House of Lords, are displayed there. History The Brangwyn Hall was designed and buil ...
in
Swansea Swansea ( ; ) is a coastal City status in the United Kingdom, city and the List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, second-largest city of Wales. It forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area, officially known as the City and County of ...
. Boyce signed a contract with the EMI producer while walking along a bridle path at
Langland Bay Langland Bay is a popular coastal holiday resort in Gower, Swansea in south Wales. It is a popular surfing beach which regularly meets the European Blue Flag award for quality. History Langland Bay - together with Caswell Bay, Rotherslad ...
, and was signed to a two-record deal overseen by Vic Lanza, head of EMI Records’ MOR music division. It was decided that the recording would be a live take of one of his dates on a pre-arranged tour, and the venue of Treorchy Rugby Club was chosen. Despite the admission fee being only 50 pence, uptake was low and an audience was rounded up by offering free entry to people in nearby pubs. Amongst the audience were members of the
Treorchy Male Voice Choir Treorchy Male Choir, also known as Treorchy Male Voice Choir, is a choir based in Treorchy in the Rhondda Valley, Wales, United Kingdom. History Choirs have existed in the Rhondda Valley for more than a 150 years and Treorchy is one of the best ...
, who added volume during the sing along choruses. EMI had sent a three-man unit to record the show, including Abbey Road sound engineer Phil Hancock, who set up the mixing desks in the club changing rooms. Recorded on 23 November 1973, Boyce was supported on the day by Welsh band Triban and the concert was compered by broadcaster
Alun Williams David Alun Williams, OBE (26 August 1920 – 30 March 1992) was a Welsh radio presenter who became one of the best known voices on BBC radio when he commentated on events such as the Coronation in 1953 and sports events including rugby, swimmi ...
, though neither appeared on the finished album. ''Live at Treorchy'' album was completed in one take on one night, with the finishing mix completed at
Abbey Road Studios Abbey Road Studios (formerly EMI Recording Studios) is a music recording studio at 3 Abbey Road, London, Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of ...
. The album had a slow response on its release, but its popularity spread through word of mouth and although the album relied on Welsh humour and pathos, its content struck a chord across Britain. The success of the album allowed Boyce to give up his day job and become a professional entertainer. His follow-up album, ''
We All Had Doctors' Papers ''We All Had Doctors' Papers'' is a live album by Welsh comedian and singer Max Boyce, first issued in 1975 and recorded at Pontarddulais Rugby Club. It was his fourth album release and followed his breakthrough recording '' Live at Treorchy''. ...
'', released in 1975, reached number one in the UK Album charts. Welsh historian Martin Johnes describes ''Live at Treorchy'' as 'important to an understanding of Welshness as anything
Dylan Thomas Dylan Marlais Thomas (27 October 1914 – 9 November 1953) was a Welsh poet and writer, whose works include the poems " Do not go gentle into that good night" and " And death shall have no dominion", as well as the "play for voices" ''Un ...
or
Saunders Lewis Saunders Lewis (born John Saunders Lewis; 15 October 1893 – 1 September 1985) was a Welsh politician, poet, dramatist, Medievalist, and literary critic. Born into a Welsh-speaking ministerial family in Greater Liverpool, Lewis studied in a p ...
wrote.'


"Hymns and Arias"

The songs on the album were mostly of a
rugby Rugby may refer to: Sport * Rugby football in many forms: ** Rugby union: 15 players per side *** American flag rugby *** Beach rugby *** Mini rugby *** Rugby sevens, 7 players per side *** Rugby tens, 10 players per side *** Snow rugby *** Tou ...
theme, including "9–3" which celebrates
Llanelli RFC Llanelli Rugby Football Club () is a Welsh rugby union club founded on 30 March 1872. The club's historic home ground was Stradey Park in Llanelli, but they moved in 2008 to the new Parc y Scarlets in adjacent Pemberton. The club song is " ...
's 1972 win over New Zealand, "The Outside Half Factory" and the song with which Boyce is now most associated, "Hymns and Arias". The chorus of "Hymns and Arias", "And we were singing/ hymns and arias/ Land of my Fathers/
Ar Hyd y Nos "Ar Hyd y Nos" () is a Welsh song sung to a tune that was first recorded in Edward Jones' ''Musical and Poetical Relics of the Welsh Bards'' (1784). The most commonly sung Welsh lyrics were written by John Ceiriog Hughes (1832–1887), and have ...
", has attained folk song status among Welsh rugby supporters and is often heard at Wales international matches. The song was also adopted by Welsh football fans, often heard at
Swansea City Swansea City Association Football Club ( ; ) is a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. It competes in the EFL Championship, the second tier of the English football league system. Swansea have played their home matches at ...
and
Wrexham Wrexham ( ; ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in the North East Wales, north-east of Wales. It lies between the Cambrian Mountains, Welsh mountains and the lower River Dee, Wales, Dee Valley, near the England–Wales border, borde ...
matches. Although "Hymns and Arias" had been released previously on his debut album ''Max Boyce in Session'', it was ''Live at Treorchy'' which brought the song to a wider audience. The track was released the next year on 7" vinyl, but only as a promotional copy, and was not released to the general public. The song and album have become icons of Welsh popular culture.'


Chart history

''Live at Treorchy'' was released in 1974, and first entered the
UK Album Charts The Official Albums Chart is the United Kingdom's industry-recognised national record chart for albums. Entries are ranked by sales and audio streaming. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the Offici ...
on 5 July at number 35. Although reaching a peak position of 21 on 11 October 1975 it kept a presence in the charts for 38 weeks, making a final appearance 22 April 1978. The album went gold and although not Boyce's highest charting record it had the longest chart life. It sold over half a million copies.


Track listing

All songs and poems written and composed by Max Boyce. # "9-3" # "The Scottish Trip" # "The Ballad of Morgan the Moon" # "The Outside Half Factory" # "Asso Asso Yogoshi" # "Duw It's Hard" # "Ten Thousand Instant Christians" # "Did You Understand" # "Hymns and Arias"


Personnel

*Max Boyce: lead vocals, guitar *Bill Southgate: piano and
organ Organ and organs may refer to: Biology * Organ (biology), a group of tissues organized to serve a common function * Organ system, a collection of organs that function together to carry out specific functions within the body. Musical instruments ...
*Alan Chesterfield: guitar *George Fenton: guitar * Derek Boote: bass *Produced by Bob Barrett *Engineered by Stuart Eltham


Charts


Weekly charts


Year-end charts


Certifications and sales


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Live at Treorchy Max Boyce albums 1974 live albums EMI Records albums